Never lines up in hot Matron Stakes
Ireland's finest day of racing action takes place at Leopardstown today, and Qatar Racing's Now Or Never (pictured below) is in the mix to land one of the premier prizes.
The Michael O'Callaghan-trained three-year-old tackles the €350,000 Gr.1 Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes (17.35) which has attracted eight top-class fillies. They include Jet Setting, who won the Irish 1,000 Guineas in May when Now Or Never was third the horse who split them that day, Minding, also runs on today's card, but she takes on colts in a star-studded QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes (18.45), which promises to be one of the highlights of the European racing season.
Jet Setting has changed hands since her Classic victory, having been sold for £1,300,000 at Goffs London Sale in association with QIPCO, when the China Horse Club made the winning bid. Four days later she met Now Or Never at Royal Ascot in the Gr.1 Coronation Stakes, in which Qatar Racing's filly gained a revenge of sorts by finishing fourth, two places ahead of her rival.
Qemah, the winner that day, and Alice Springs, who was third, three-quarters of a length ahead of Now Or Never, are also in today's fascinating line-up. Another filly who must be mentioned is Persuasive, who won a handicap at the Royal meeting, and today bids for a sixth straight victory.
Despite the strength of opposition, O'Callaghan sounded confident when saying: ‚"Now Or Never is in great form everything is spot on with her. Her work has been very good and she looks fit and strong. The draw is fine and the current going description is ideal, although I hope rain doesn't affect the ground too much.‚"
The QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes is a stunner, with the likes of Derby and Irish Derby winner Harzand, Breeders' Cup heroine Found, Eclipse Stakes victor Hawksbill and King George winner Highland Reel taking on the brilliant Minding, a dual Classic winner.
Doncaster's St Leger meeting is completed today, when the feature race is run. Qatar Racing, which won the St Leger last year with Simple Verse, is not represented today, but runs Argus in the 12-furlongs handicap (18.00) that closes the card. A three-time winner for Ralph Beckett last year, Argus ran well enough on his season's debut at York in July, and is said to have improved for the race.
Beckett also runs Mountain Bell in Chester's Listed Stand Cup (14.50), which will be her first run since May. She was third in the Listed Oaks Trial at Lingfield on that occasion a race which has worked out well and softer ground today should be more to her liking.
Photograph of Now Or Never: Laurence Squire